The New Moon at 8 degrees of Aquarius (4:07pm PST on January 27th) shifts the focus from Capricorn (career, achievement, conditioning, tradition, the patriarchy, our role in society), and into Aquarius (community, networks, friendship, the future, humanitarianism). Aquarius is known for being cool and detached; to contribute to the group requires a certain objectivity, the ability to get outside oneself and see what’s best for the community.

Aquarius is both about inclusion and exclusion. The process of individuation can be painful as we break away from our conditioning, and the expectations of our society and family (Capricorn), and become our unique selves. It’s through individuation that we find the community who truly appreciates us for who we are. The very same individuality can mean exclusion from other groups. We are also likely to feel a lack of belonging to the extent that we are not fully expressing ourselves, to the extent that we are trying to fit in with people who are not really our people.

There’s an opportunity this month for opening in a deeper way to our own inherent natures, for becoming more of who we are, for making connections, finding our people, building community.

The New Moon sits right at the midpoint of a square between Venus and Saturn. This suggests a challenge to relationships. Perhaps something that needs working through before this new Aquarian energy can be fully realized. Venus square Saturn may manifest as loneliness, jealousy, sexual dissatisfaction, feeling disconnected or isolated. There’s a need to reevaluate relationships. This foreshadows the coming Venus retrograde, from March 6 to April 15th (though we’ll start feeling this as early as January 30th, when the shadow period begins).

While taking a sober look at our relationships is necessary at times, be careful not to overdo it. Sometimes Saturn can lead us to be too hard on others, to expect them to live up to impossible standards. Use this influence to let go of any illusions regarding your relationships, to see them more clearly, but don’t be too hard on others, and remember, this influence will pass.

It can of course be disheartening to realize we are alone in the world, that no one will ever truly know us; but it’s possible to push this even further and come to a deeper connection to Self, to realize that in our isolation we are never alone, we are connected to soul, to source, and to everything and everyone. It’s paradoxically through disconnection with others and through going within that we can fully realize our connectedness to all that is.

The other advantage here is the possibility for stabilizing and strengthening relationships through acknowledging limitations and difficulties. Mercury conjunct Pluto can help us to dig deep, to face the difficult stuff we’d normally rather avoid. Perhaps there’s an opportunity for having an important conversation, for working things out. The semi-squares from Saturn and Venus to the New Moon in community-minded Aquarius suggests this kind of work is important for the sake of community. And, of course, building community takes work, lasting relationships take work.

On a broader level, Venus square Saturn may indicate the heartbreak and deep pain so many of us may feel regarding the man who’s name I will not mention. I encourage you to stay engaged. The community of humanity (Aquarius) needs you. There is nothing spiritual about avoiding reality, or not caring that others suffer, that others’ freedoms are threatened.

Jupiter opposite Uranus till March continues to deliver shocking news, but simultaneously inspires resistance, organization, the fight for freedom. Aquarius, and its ruler, Uranus, represent the humanitarian, the activist, the revolutionary. In community we are strong. With spirit, we are fierce.

See the Astrology Calendar for exact dates of transits, and for more detail regarding the day-to-day astrology this month. (Password is at the bottom of my email, for subscribers).

I'm going to post horoscope videos soon for how all this applies to each sign, so check my Youtube channel in the next couple days for that. (I won't be sending out an email when I post videos, so if you want to be notified, you can subscribe to my Youtube channel).